Spinning-top.



Np. 814,818. BATENTED MAR 18, 1906.

. W. WHITFIELD.

SPINNING TOP.

APPLIOATIOH Hum SEPT. 28, 1904.

I To aZZIwhom it may concern.-

the following is a specification, reference be- 7 supporting member and a disk WILLIAM WHITFIELD, OF JUSTIN, TEXAS.

SPINNING-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 26,1904. Serial No. 226,022.

Be it known. that I, WILLIAM WHIT IELD,

a citizen of the United States, residin at Just1n, 1n the county of Denton and tate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops, of which ing had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

spinning-tops; and the object of .the invention is the provision of a device of this character with which a number of novel efi'ects can be secured.

The invention, broadly stated, comprises a member adapted to be rotated or spun there said recess.

on, one of said members being provided with arecess or depression and the other of said members having a point adapted to engage The invention contemplates supporting the supporting device in various positions in order to produce difierent eflects, particularly set In the drawings, wherein a preferable embodiment of my invention is shown, and wherein like letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, showing the supporting device secured upon. a horizontally-stretched wire. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention, showing a supporting device which is adapted to be suspended from the end of afiexible cord. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, showing a supporting device which is adapted to be secured upon a horizontally-stretched wire and to support a pair of disks one above and'the other below said wire. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the invention, showing the supporting device whichis adapted to be slipped on the finger after the manner of a ring. "Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another form ofthe invention, showing a supporting device Whichis adapted to be secured upon the end of a stick. Fig. 6'is a perspective view of a thimble adapted to be placed on the top of the disk to. enhance the eifect. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the disk and upper end of the supporting-rod.

' Referrlng now more particularly to the dr'awingsin the form shown in'Fig. 1, A de- This invention relates to improvements in l or spinning I notes a flexible wire or cord stretched between two suitable points. B denotes asupporting device adapted to besecured upon said w1re, and C the disk, adapted to be supported thereby. The su porting device B comprises a needle or rod pointed at its upper end and provided at its lower end with a ball or balancing-Weight b. The needle is provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly-extending notch 6 adapted to engage the wire A, so that the supporting device may be suspended therefrom. The disk 0 is provided on its under side with a centrally-disposed recess or depression 0, adapted to engage the point of the supporting needle orrod b, and on its upper side with an Patented March 13,1906.

is held by the stem 0 so that the depression c engages the point of the needle or rod 6 of the supporting device and is spun thereon. The supporting device can then be suspended from the Wire A by meansof the-upwardlyextending notch 6 the ball 7) serving to balance the spinning-disk. The supporting device B can becaused to swingback and forth on the wire A, the ball I) at all times serving to balance the s inning-disk. I In the form sl iown in Fig. 2, D denotes an other form of supporting device, which is adapted to be suspended from one end of a flexible cord. The supporting device D comprises a straight upper portion d and a hookshaped lower portion 01, the free end of which is bent -upwardly to directly underlie the straight portion 01 and terminates in apoint (i upon which the disk 0 is adapted to be spun. The upper end of the straight portion 01 is provided with a loop or eye (P, in which the end of a cord is adapted to be secured. To use this form of the device, the free end of the cord, which is secured to the eye (1 of the supporting device D, is either held in the hand or secured to any stationary object, so that the supporting device will be suspended therefrom. A disk 0 is then spun upon the point (1 of the supporting device. The rotation of the disk will cause the hook to revolve slowly in the. same direction as the disk until the cord by which the hook is surpended becomes taut from being twisted, when the rotary movement of the supporting device will be reversed, andit will turn in a direction opposite to that in which the disk is spinning. The supporting device D will continue to revolve alternately in opposite directions as long as the disk 0 is spinning, therebyproducing a very pleasing and novel effect.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 3 I employ a supporting device E, similar in shape to the supporting device D, (illustrated in Fig. 2,) since it has a straight upper portion 6 and a hook-shaped lower portion 6, the free end of which is bent upwardly to underlie the straight portion 6 and terminates in a point e The upper end of the supporting device, however, terminates in a point 6 adapted to support another disk instead of in an eye, as in Fig. 2. The straight portion 6 of the supporting device is provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly-extending notch 6 so that the same may be suspended from a horizontally-stretched wire or cord. To use this form of my device, a pair of disks are spun upon the points a and e of the support-' ing device E. The supporting device is then suspended from a horizontally-stretched wire or cord by means of the upwardly-extending notch e. In this form the disk which is spun upon the point 6 serves as a balancing member to balance the disk which is spun upon the point e of the supporting device.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4 the supporting device comprises a ring F, which is adapted to be secured upon the finger of the operator, and a point f, secured to the outer surface thereof, upon which the disk is adapted to be spun. With this form of my device the ring F is placed on the finger of the operator and the disk spun upon the point f thereof. By moving the finger in various directions the operator can cause the disk to spin at various angles on the point In Fig. 5 I have shown a supporting device G, adapted to be secured upon the end of a stick. The supporting device in this instance is formed, preferably, from a single piece of wire, which is coiled to form a sleeve for the reception of the end of a stick and which has its outer end bent upwardly and terminates in a point g, upon which the disk is adapted to be spun.

In order to enhance the effect of the spinning-disks, I have provided a series of hollow thimbles H, (shown in Fig. 6,) which are adapted to be placed upon the upwardlyprojecting stems c of the disks 0. The openings in the thimbles are considerably larger in diameter than the stems c on the disks, with the result that when one of the thimbles is placed over one of said stems while the disk is spinning the thimble will be given a wabbling movement, which adds much to the effect. The thimble may be made in any de sired shape or form, according to the effect which it is desired to secure.

In all of the forms of my device the disks and the supporting devices are preferably 01- namented in any suitable manner, so as to make the effect more pleasing when the disks are spinning.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction shown in the drawings, as numerous minor changes might be made thereto without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting-wire, a supporting device adapted to be secured thereto intermediate its ends, a spinning member carried by one end of said supporting device and the opposite end of said supporting device being provided with a balancing portion, said spinning member and balancing portion being arranged one above and the other below the supporting-wire.

2. In a device of the character described, a supporting wire or cord, a supporting device adapted to be secured thereto intermediate its ends, and a spinning member supported upon a portion of the supporting device above the wire, said supporting device being provided with a balancing portion below the supporting-wire.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting-wire, a supporting device adapb ed to be secured thereto intermediate its ends a spinning member carried by the upper end of said supporting device, and a balancing member carried by said supporting device below the supporting-wire, said balancing member embodying a spinning member.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting wire or cord, a supporting device comprising a member pointed at its upper end and provided with a balancing portion at its lower end and with an upwardly-extending notch intermediate its ends adapted to engage the wire, and a spinning member adapted to be spun upon the pointed end of said member.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting wire or cord, a supporting device comprising a member provided with an upwardly extending notch intermediate its ends adapted to engage the wire, a spinning member carried by said supporting device, and a balancing member carried by said supporting device, said spinning member and balancing member being arranged one above and the other below the supporting-wire.

6. In a device of the character described, a swinging supporting device supported intermediate its ends, a spinning member carried by one end of said supporting device, and the opposite end of said supporting device being provided with a balancing member.

7. In a device of the character described, a supporting cord or wire, a supporting device "spinning member supported upon said lower in presence of two witnesses.

adapted to be suspended from said wire and nating in an upwardly-extending point dihaving'its lower end bent upwardly to directly underlying said upper straight portion. I0 reotly underlie the point of suspension, and a In testimony whereof affiX my signature end. I WILLIAM WHITFIELD. 8. A supporting member for spinning-tops Witnesses: comprising a substantially straight upper H. PENNINGTON,

portion and a 0-shaped lower portion termi- B. C. LOWRY. 

